The Wormhole Foundation has announced the integration of Google Cloud into its decentralized validator network, the Guardian Network. As a new member of the Guardian Network, Google Cloud infrastructure can increase the overall network decentralization, ensure uptime, and instantly fill the gaps when other Guardian nodes experience outages.
Simply put, the adoption of Google Cloud allows Wormhole to effectively avoid system crashes caused by single points of failure in the Guardian Network.
Google Cloud helps strengthen Wormhole security
According to the official press release, Wormhole’s defense-in-depth security strategy adopts multiple layers of protection.
The most critical decentralized Guardian Network is supported by two modules, namely Global Accountant and Governor. The former is used to ensure a 1:1 equivalent link between native assets and packaged assets on the chain; the latter is responsible for monitoring and restricting the circulation of assets to prevent cross-chain contagion (Cross-Chain Contagion, meaning errors caused by the cross-chain process Issues such as casting or improper unlocking).
This series of protection mechanisms and strict audit processes form Wormhole’s defense-in-depth security construction, and the goal of Wormhole’s cooperation with Google Cloud is to further strengthen this security system.
Why is Google Cloud partnering with Wormhole?
The Wormhole development team pointed out that this cooperation with Google Cloud will allow Wormhole to reduce downtime and unverified messages to optimize the developer and user experience from 30 blockchain networks.
Rishi Ramchandani, head of Google Cloud Web3 Asia Pacific, believes that the cooperation with Wormhole shows that Google Cloud's powerful computing system can help Web3 developers build a secure, efficient, and scalable ecosystem. He said:
"Wormhole provides a universal, open source and secure interoperability platform across blockchains and is the most valuable partner. Cooperation with them will reflect the greatest potential of our computing technology on a global scale."
What are the other benefits of adopting Google Cloud?
On the other hand, in addition to the enhancement of Guardians, Google Cloud will also accelerate Wormhole’s roadmap to improve the Zero-Kwonledge Proof (ZKP) system.
At the upcoming Wormhole "Sigma" hackathon in the fall of 2024, Google Cloud and Wormhole will collaborate to develop a ZK verification mechanism to convert Wormhole from a third-party verification cross-chain bridge to a trustless cross-chain bridge, and achieve a more efficient cross-chain bridge. chain information transfer.
The Wormhole roadmap shows that the inclusion of Google Cloud into Guardians this time is only a temporary security enhancement before the development of the zero-knowledge system is completed. Eventually, the entire Guradians system will be replaced with a ZK verification system. Therefore, their cooperation with Google Cloud should actually pave the way for ZKP. With the practice of this technology, Wormhole will further consolidate their leading position in the cross-chain bridge track.
